Objectives: Wikipedia has been situated and is well established as a valuable resource for the general layperson wishing to learn more about their health or the health of a loved one. This research, grounded in LIS theory, explores the role of Wikipedia in consumer health information behaviour (CHIB).
Methods: Drawing on current health information behaviour models and relevant theoretical frameworks in LIS, the author frames Wikipedia as an under explored consumer health information resource. This mixed-methods qualitative study utilized demographic surveys and one-on-one interviews to investigate the role of Wikipedia in consumer health information behaviour: namely whether its use by consumers i influenced by information need, socio-economic status, educational background and more.
Results: The data collection phase (survey and interviews) is now complete and early analysis of data has identified some key patterns worth noting: namely that education and Wikipedia use are not necessarily correlated, but how or why one engages with Wikipedia's health content is related to educational background. Wikipedia has been found to influence a patient's ability to engage in constructive dialogue with their clinician. Additionally early results will be shared during this lightning talk.
Conclusions: At this time, the author can only conclude that Wikipedia is an under explored resource in our understanding of consumer health information. Further, this is the first study to explicitly focus on WIkipedia's users and investigate their use of this resource through an LIS lens. Once results of this study have been finalized and published, more research will be necessary to develop a richer body of knowledge on this topic.
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